retells the story of his life. Almost all the action he describes repeats what we've heard before (see Exodus 12-20, 32-34; Numbers 11-17; 20-24), but Deuteronomy provides a much more personal account.
Unlike other ancient books, the Bible gives major emphasis to "nobodies" - poor people, aliens, widows, orphans, the sick. Many of the laws relating to them repeat laws from the three preceding books. But Deuteronomy gives hidden insights into why God has such special concern for nobodies and why the Israelites should also. It also gives intriguing ideas on how such concern can be translated into actual political and economic policies. As you go through the book, mark each passage that relates to such people.
The New Testament quotes Deuteronomy more often than any other Old Testament book. Twenty-one of the 27 New Testament books allude to Deuteronomy; some scholars count 90 different citations. Jesus, himself, drew from it during his temptation (Matthew 4). |
